Piggy Bank Award: Dumpster diving for diamonds and platinum

Tess Vigeland: Our little blue plastic friend is heading to Margate, Fla. at the home for Brian McGuinn, who will get along great with our pig, because he knows personally what it's like to wade in slop. Here's how the story begins:

Brian McGuinn: I threw out my wife's ring in the trash and it was an adventure from that point on.

Not just any ring, but Anna McGuinn's one-and-a-half carat diamond and platinum engagement ring.

Anna McGuinn: After coming to the realization that not only had he throw it into our kitchen trash, but he had taken our trash to our local community dumpster the night before. I was absolutely horrified.

Did we mention that Bryan is a financial planner? So not only was this an emotional loss, but needless to say, a monetary one.

Bryan: Well, you know, you do think numbers instantly. But it kinda just all faded away the minute I looked at my wife and just saw the expression on her face.

So what did Brian do? Why, he went to the dump, of course. Waded through a nine-ton, 10-foot high pile of stink -- and found her ring.

Bryan: I actually went right to her office with the ring. I just so wanted to get that back on her finger. I didn't even wash it off.

Anna: He slipped it on, sludge covered and all.

And oh the life lessons to be imparted here.

Bryan: I learned that I'm never gonna touch my wife's jewelry again. That's the easy part. But I also learned that, you know, if you want something, you can get it. You're just gonna have to bust your butt for it.

Anna: And me, I learned to never take the ring off again. And this re-confirmed what an amazing, wonderful husband I have. So I'm very blessed.

And so, we award a piggy to the McGuinns. Perhaps he can help save up for the dry cleaning bill. Meantime, we have advised him not to go wading in the Everglades.

Tess Vigeland was the host of Marketplace Money, a weekly personal finance program that looks at why we do what we do with our money: your life, with dollar signs. Vigeland and her guests took calls from listeners to answer their most vexing money management questions, and the program...